Tech review: Gift options for the cord cutter
Management to Host Earnings Call on December 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. ET BOSTON, MA, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Netcapital Inc. (Nasdaq: NCPL, NCPLW) (the “Company”), a digital private capital markets ecosystem, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 ended October 31, 2024. "During the quarter ended October 31, 2024, we saw a decrease in revenue, when compared to the quarter ended October 31, 2023, but an increase in revenue when compared to the quarter ended July 31, 2024. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to a slowdown in consulting revenue, while the sequential increase was driven by our funding portal business. Despite the challenges we faced during a tough quarter, we remain optimistic about the future,” said Martin Kay, CEO of Netcapital Inc. “Recently our wholly-owned subsidiary, Netcapital Securities Inc. received approval from FINRA to become a FINRA-member broker-dealer, which marks a significant achievement for the Company as it begins to open up opportunities for more revenue channels. Looking beyond the second quarter we are focused on leveraging our new broker-dealer license and expanding our capabilities. With NSI as a registered broker-dealer, we can now support companies raising capital under Reg A and Reg D offerings, facilitate and charge fees on larger fundraises, potentially provide a broader range of investment choices for our investor base, and establish fee-sharing agreements with other broker-dealers.” Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights Revenues decreased 92% year-over-year to $170,528, compared to revenue of $2,041,658 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. Revenues increased 20% quarter-over-quarter to $170,528, compared to revenue of $142,227 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025. Operating loss of ($2,202,431) in the second quarter fiscal 2025 as compared to operating income of $52,220 for the second quarter fiscal 2024 Net loss of approximately ($2,220,501) in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, as compared to a net profit of approximately $339,616, for the same period in the prior year Loss per share of ($2.34) for the quarter ended October 31, 2024, compared to earnings per share of $2.52 for the same period in the prior year As of October 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1,346,739. Conference Call Information The Company will host an investor conference call on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET. Participant access: 844-985-2012 or 973-528-0138 Conference entry code: 894026 For additional disclosure regarding Netcapital’s operating results, please refer to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31, 2024, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Netcapital Inc. Netcapital Inc. is a fintech company with a scalable technology platform that allows private companies to raise capital online and provides private equity investment opportunities to investors. The Company's consulting group, Netcapital Advisors , provides marketing and strategic advice and takes equity positions in select companies. The Company’s funding portal, Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc . is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a registered national securities association. Forward Looking Statements The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Investor Contact 800-460-0815 ir@netcapital.com NETCAPITAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS NETCAPITAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.61 per share of outstanding Common Stock. The dividend will be payable in cash on February 28, 2025, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2025. About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “feel,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors (many beyond our control) that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections. Our forward-looking statements, and the risks and uncertainties related thereto, include, but are not limited to, those described under the “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and in other filings with the SEC, as well as, among others: In addition, many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties are, or could be, exacerbated by any worsening of the global business and economic environment. A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211777419/en/ CONTACT: Starbucks Contact, Investor Relations: Tiffany Willis investorrelations@starbucks.comStarbucks Contact, Media: Emily Albright press@starbucks.com KEYWORD: WASHINGTON UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL RESTAURANT/BAR FOOD/BEVERAGE SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 04:05 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211777419/enA look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans’ health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. If Congress approves, prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will helm the team. Here’s a look at the nominees’ potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Israeli strikes without warning in central Beirut kill at least 15 as diplomats push for cease-fire BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanese officials say Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 15 people and injured dozens in central Beirut, as the once-rare attacks on the heart of Lebanon’s capital continue without warning. Diplomats are scrambling to broker a cease-fire but say obstacles still remain. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-fire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in the months of fighting that have turned into all-out war. Voters rejected historic election reforms across the US, despite more than $100M push JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Election reform advocates had hoped for a big year at the ballot box. That's because a historic number of states were considering initiatives for ranked choice voting or to end partisan primaries. Instead, voters dealt them big losses in the November elections. Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota all rejected proposed changes to their voting systems. In Alaska, a proposal to repeal ranked choice voting appears to have narrowly fallen short. The losses in many states came even though election reform supporters raised more than $100 million, easily outpacing opponents. Supporters say they aren't giving up but plan to retool their efforts. The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war. It began with U.S. President Joe Biden reversing a longstanding policy by granting Kyiv permission to deploy American longer-range missiles inside Russian territory and ended with Moscow striking Ukraine with a new experimental ballistic weapon that has alarmed the international community and heightened fears of further escalation. Winter storms and rain sweep across the US while a new system is expected to arrive for Thanksgiving HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — A major storm continues to drop heavy snow and record rain in California, causing small landslides and flooding some streets. Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, blizzard or winter storm warnings were in effect Saturday from parts of the Northeast to central Appalachia. The storm on the West Coast arrived in the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, before moving through Northern California. Another storm system is expected to arrive for Thanksgiving week and linger into Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest, dumping rain as well as snow in the higher elevations. That is according to the National Weather Service. Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight Most people taking popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight have shed significant pounds. But obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not see robust results with the new medications. The response to the drugs varies from person to person and can depend on genetics, hormones and differences in how the brain regulates energy. Undiagnosed medical conditions and some drugs can prevent weight loss. Experts say it can take experimentation to help so-called nonresponders find results. Fighting between armed sectarian groups in restive northwestern Pakistan kills at least 37 people PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A senior Pakistani police officer says fighting between armed sectarian groups in the country's restive northwest has killed at least 37 people. The overnight violence was the latest to rock Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes days after a deadly gun ambush killed 42 people. The officer said Saturday that armed men torched shops, houses and government property overnight. Gunfire is ongoing between rival tribes. Although Sunnis and Shiites generally live together peacefully in Pakistan, tensions remain in some areas, especially Kurram. Doctor at the heart of Turkey's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician ISTANBUL (AP) — The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies says he was a “trusted” physician. Dr. Firat Sari is one of 47 people on trial accused of transferring newborn babies to neonatal units of private hospitals, where they were allegedly kept for prolonged and sometimes unnecessary treatments in order to receive social security payments. Sari said patients were referred to him because people trusted him and he did not bribe anyone involved with Turkey’s emergency medical phone line. Sari, said to be the plot’s ringleader, faces up to 583 years in prison. Andy Murray will coach Novak Djokovic through the Australian Open Recently retired Andy Murray will team up with Novak Djokovic, working with him as a coach through the Australian Open in January. Murray’s representatives put out statements from both players on Saturday. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history. Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals who finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Summer Games in August.
A woman who accused mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor of "brutally raping and battering" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly €250,000 ($257,000) by a civil court jury in Ireland on Friday. The woman, identified as Nikita Hand, claimed that the December 9, 2018, assault left her severely bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a night of partying. McGregor denied the allegations, testifying that their encounter was consensual and that Hand fabricated the claims. His lawyer had labeled her a "gold digger." After a six-hour deliberation, a jury of eight women and four men found McGregor gulty for assault, despite his denials. The fighter, once a dominant figure in the UFC, showed no reaction as the verdict was announced. He later vowed on the social media platform X to appeal the decision and the "modest award." Outside the courthouse, Hand, visibly emotional, thanked her family, friends, jurors, and supporters for helping her throughout the ordeal. She also expressed gratitude for her daughter, who she said had given her strength during the six years since the attack. "I want to show her and every other boy and girl that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served," she said. Throughout the trial, Hand's lawyer argued that McGregor, angry after a loss in Las Vegas, took out his frustration on Hand. He described McGregor as a "coward" and urged jurors to hold him accountable for his actions. Hand testified that McGregor, after sharing cocaine with her and a friend, sexually assaulted her despite her objections. She said she repeatedly told him "no," but he pinned her down, placed her in a chokehold, and threatened to kill her. Hand recalled being afraid for her life, fearing she would never see her daughter again. She said she eventually acquiesced to McGregor’s advances out of fear. A paramedic who examined Hand the following day testified to the severity of her injuries, describing the bruising as unlike anything she had seen before. Medical experts confirmed that Hand had multiple injuries. The police had investigated the matter, but prosecutors chose not to pursue charges, citing insufficient evidence. McGregor, who has consistently denied the allegations, claimed that their interaction had been athletic and vigorous but not violent. He dismissed the woman's version of events as a "full-blown lie." McGregor's defense team argued that the jury should set aside any personal animosity toward the fighter and focus on the facts. They also presented surveillance footage showing Hand kissing McGregor's arm and appearing "happy" after leaving the hotel room, suggesting that the encounter was consensual. Despite the civil court ruling, McGregor continues to deny the accusations, and the case remains a highly contentious legal matter. In a separate lawsuit, Hand lost her case against McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, whom she had also accused of sexual assault. (With AP inputs)No. 24 Illinois stuns Rutgers on Bryant’s 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds left
Never forget where you came from. Cam Ward lives by the mantra. The former Wing-T quarterback from Southeast Texas is one of the most popular names in college football, with a chance to claim the sport’s most prestigious award before fulfilling a dream of going to the NFL. Ward has the 11th-ranked Miami Hurricanes in a position to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and a chance to clinch a spot in the expanded College Football Playoffs. However, the ’Canes are taking it one game at a time with the early goal of punching their ticket to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. “We know we have to win two more,” he said. The Hurricanes are Ward’s third collegiate team since graduating from Columbia High School in 2020. Ward graduated from Washington State in the spring, making him eligible to transfer a second time. He first went through the transfer portal in 2022 after two seasons with the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio. During his latest journey in the portal, Ward garnered much attention from Power 5 schools, including Florida State and USC, but the quarterback chose Miami and its football pedigree. “I chose Miami because of the coaching staff,” Ward said. “Coach (Mario) Cristobal, coach (Shannon) Dawson being the offensive coordinator, his philosophy and the way he breaks down plays and thinks as an offensive coordinator and how wants to put the ball in play with the run and pass game, those were big reasons why I came to Miami.” Miami allowed Ward to start right away, and he soon won over his team, he said. “They were giving me the opportunity to play, and that’s all I really wanted,” Ward said. Ward felt it didn’t take him long to get acclimated to Florida. The weather certainly made him feel at home, he said. Compared to the winters in Washington state, Ward was happy to get back in the heat, he said. Ward also grew to appreciate the different styles of football in the ACC compared to the Pac-12 during his days in the Football Championship Series at Incarnate Word. “A lot of the teams conference-wise do a lot of different stuff than the Pac-12,” he said. “You see a lot more 1-high (single safety coverage), and the ACC, you get a lot more 2-high, and they play more man.” The Cover 2-man coverage fits Ward’s ability with his group of receivers. This season, Ward has passed for 3,494 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions for an 89.3 QB rating. He’s on the verge of finishing with the second-most passing yards in a season in his career. Ward’s second year at Incarnate Word saw him throw for north of 4,500 yards and 47 touchdowns. More importantly, he is one of the frontrunners for this year’s Heisman Trophy, an annual award given to the most outstanding college football player in the United States. He is in the mix with Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Ward would be the third ’Cane to win the Heisman, joining quarterbacks Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Toretta in 1992. “It’s a quarterback-friendly scheme, and it’s good for our running backs and receivers,” Ward said. “I think the best thing for us as an offense is that we can move the ball effectively, whether throwing it or running. “We can take what the defense gives us or be explosive. Dawson’s scheme is why we are so successful right now.” While the Hurricanes are looking to get into position for a crack at the ACC title game, Miami is 11th in the latest College Football Rankings. The team was ranked fourth with its 9-0 record before being upset by Georgia Tech on Nov. 9. Since then, the ’Canes were on a bye last week and will finish the regular season schedule with their final home game against Wake Forest and the finale at Syracuse, which sits second ahead of Miami in the ACC standings. Southern Methodist University is the top dog at 6-0 in conference play. “My expectation is to win a lot of football games, and we are doing that right now,” Ward said. Ward has won plenty of games throughout his five-year collegiate career, with 34 wins. His second season at Incarnate Word saw the most victories in a season with 10, but topping that this year would mean possibly winning a conference title and a bowl game, if not a playoff game. He wants to make history for a program full of tradition by guiding it to its first conference championship. While the Hurricanes have won five national championships, they have yet to win a conference title. “We just want to win the ACC championship. That is something Miami has never done, and we want to be the first team to do it,” Ward said. Ward’s most improbable game of the season was a thrilling comeback win on the road Oct. 5 against new ACC member California. Ward was 35-of-53 passing for 437 yards and two touchdowns. The ’Canes trailed by as much as 35-10 with 8:06 left in the third quarter before outscoring the Golden Bears 29-3 the rest of the way. Ward accounted for three of the team’s final four scores, including a 5-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Elijah Arroyo with 26 seconds left in regulation. The win improved the then-8th-ranked ’Canes to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in ACC play. “That was just a fun game because it emphasized how resilient our team is,” Ward said. “We can overcome a lot of stuff, and being a part of it and making the plays with my teammates made it even more fun. “If you look at the people of our sideline, they don’t care what the scoreboard says. We play four quarters of football, and you keep playing hard until that clock hits zero.” The game was nationally televised on ESPN, and the broadcast repeatedly showed Ward’s parents, Calvin and Patrice. Cam Ward’s parents have been to every game, home and away, throughout his collegiate career. “Those are the only two people I want in the stands,” Ward said. “What they sacrificed for me to get to where I’m at means a lot to me. It’s why I love playing football — having my parents in the stands cheering for me.” Many people in and around college football have voiced their opinions on the transfer portal and NIL deals. Ward, however, believes the portal is a good thing for the sport. It certainly has helped him experience several levels of the college football ranks. “At the end of the day, I don’t think a lot of kids get credit for why they’re transferring, and no one asks why they are transferring, just that they are in the portal,” Ward said. “A lot of people are transferring because they are not playing or want to be seen on a higher level playing for a bigger school. It’s a mix of both worlds because, at the end of the day, it’s about playing football and we have to do what is best for us to put us in that situation to be able to make plays on the field. “It’s a good addition in college football and everything that comes with it. I think most people think of it the wrong way because maybe a player has bounced around four and five times, and they are still young, but they also haven’t found that right spot that maximizes them to the best of their ability.” Throughout his collegiate career, Ward has cherished the different environments he’s experienced, from the FCS level to the Pac-12 to a juggernaut Power 5 program in Coral Gables, Florida. His experience and play continues to lift his NFL Draft stock as a top half first-round pick in the 2025 draft. “Where you play does matter,” he said. “And what I cherish the most is that I got to experience every part of it.”Key nations raced Saturday to salvage UN climate talks after the poorest countries pushed back angrily for more than $300 billion a year in help from historic wealthy emitters. More than a day past the scheduled conclusion of two days of COP29 talks, host Azerbaijan urged bleary-eyed delegates to seek consensus to avoid failure. "I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome," COP president Mukhtar Babayev told a late-night session, urging all nations to "bridge the remaining divide". Developing power Brazil pleaded for at least some progress and said it would seek to build on it when it leads COP30 next year in the Amazon gateway of Belem. "After the difficult experience that we're having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we're facing," Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva told delegates. A number of nations have accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets record temperatures and faces rising deadly disasters. Small island nations threatened by rising seas and impoverished African states on Saturday angrily stormed out of a meeting with Azerbaijan, saying their concerns had been ignored. The European Union, United States and other wealthy countries met directly with poorer nations to work out final details, with both blocs also concerned at efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last year's summit to phase out fossil fuels. "If we don't do it, people at home -- in every home across the world -- would say, why did you not get an agreement? Because I believe we can," Irish climate minister Eamon Ryan told AFP. A draft of the final text seen by AFP proposes that rich nations raise to $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change. It is up from $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire -- and from $250 billion proposed in a draft Friday. That offer was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which have demanded at least $500 billion to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions. Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, called the draft "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world". As staff at the cavernous and windowless stadium began closing down, diplomats rushed to meetings with one another, some ready with food and water in preparation for another late night. Panama's outspoken negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, voiced anger at offers by rich countries but warned not to repeat the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. "I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm disheartened, I'm hungry, I'm sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen," he told reporters. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the revised offer of $300 billion was "a significant scaling up" of the existing pledge by developed nations, which also count the United States, EU and Japan among their ranks. Climate activists shouted "shame" as US climate envoy John Podesta walked the halls. "Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," he said. Wealthy nations say it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. Ali Mohamed, the Kenyan chair of the African Group of Negotiators, told AFP: "No deal is better than a bad deal." South African environment minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." "What we are not up for is going backwards or standing still," he said. "We might as well just have stayed at home then." The US and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms. The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. bur-np-sct/lth/giv
Declan Devine: I’m not here for a bit of craic... players on full-time wages with a part-time mentality must change
NTIA considering guidelines for ethical use of ‘pervasive data’The madness of Luigi MangioneBMW praises Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology on social mediaRICHARDSON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2024 / Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPXS), a leading manufacturer of precision optical sighting systems for domestic and worldwide military and commercial applications, announced today it has been awarded a three-year, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Optically Improved Periscopes from DLA Land and Marine with a maximum value of $6.5 million and two additional option years. Danny Schoening, CEO, Optex Systems stated "Optex continues to support our domestic armored vehicle manufactures through the ongoing supply of laser protected periscopes. These units provide our customers with real-time situational awareness while protecting them from harmful laser strikes. This three year contract speaks to the decades-long relationship with the U.S. Government and our commitment to quality and reliability." With this order, the current Optex backlog is in excess of $42 million. ABOUT OPTEX SYSTEMS Optex, which was founded in 1987, is a Richardson, Texas based ISO 9001:2015 certified concern, which manufactures optical sighting systems and assemblies, primarily for Department of Defense (DOD) applications. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams and Bradley fighting vehicles, Light Armored and Armored Security Vehicles, and have been selected for installation on the Stryker family of vehicles. Optex also manufactures and delivers numerous periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Optex delivers its products both directly to the military services and to prime contractors. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.optexsys.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the products and services described herein. You can identify these statements by the use of the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," "likely," "forecast," "probable," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events, including, but not limited to, any statements regarding growth strategy; product and development programs; financial performance and financial condition (including revenue, net income, profit margins and working capital); orders and backlog; the estimated value of IDIQ contracts; expected timing of contract deliveries to customers and corresponding revenue recognition; increases in the cost of materials and labor; costs remaining to fulfill contracts; contract loss reserves; labor shortages; follow-on orders; supply chain challenges; the continuation of historical trends; the sufficiency of our cash balances for future liquidity and capital resource needs; the expected impact of changes in accounting policies on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows; anticipated problems and our plans for future operations; and the economy in general or the future of the defense industry. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, continued funding of defense programs and military spending, the timing of such funding, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, changes in the U.S. Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, changes in spending due to policy changes in any new federal presidential administration, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions and restructurings or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, changes to export regulations, increases in tax rates, changes to generally accepted accounting principles, difficulties in retaining key employees and customers, unanticipated costs under fixed-price service and system integration engagements, changes in the market for microcap stocks regardless of growth and value and various other factors beyond our control. You must carefully consider any such statement and should understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from the Company's forward-looking statements. These factors include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. You should carefully evaluate such statements in light of factors described in the Company's filings with the SEC, especially on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. In various filings the Company has identified important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historic results. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete list of all potential risks or uncertainties. Contact: IR@optexsys.com (972) 764-5718 SOURCE: Optex Systems Holdings, Inc. View the original on accesswire.com
The Liberal government is pulling out the federal wallet to put more money into people’s pockets over the holidays, but its recently announced affordability measures create winners and losers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that the federal government will remove the goods and services tax on a slew of items for two months, starting Dec. 14. But in provinces where the provincial and federal sales taxes are blended together into a harmonized sales tax, Canadians will get a larger break. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. That means Canadians who were not working in 2023, including those who were receiving social assistance or were in retirement, will not be sent a cheque in April. In the House of Commons on Friday, NDP MP Peter Julian called the government out for not including Canadians with fixed incomes. “Why are Liberals excluding seniors and people with disabilities from the real help they need this holiday season? Why won’t Liberals help them, too?” Julian asked during question period. At a news conference on Friday, Trudeau said that the federal government has already stepped up to help the most vulnerable Canadians and that it is now time to give a hand to workers. “Over the past number of years, we have been extraordinarily present in helping the most vulnerable Canadians,” Trudeau said, mentioning the boost to old-age security for seniors aged 75 and older and the Canada Child Benefit. “But as I travel across the country, I do regularly hear from working Canadians who are having trouble making ends meet, but saying, ‘look, I don’t have kids. I’m not a senior yet, and I’m facing challenges.’” The GST break, which is expected to cost the federal government $1.6 billion, will apply to a number of items including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees — both natural and artificial — along with a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles. Meanwhile, 18.7 million people will receive a check this spring, costing the government about $4.7 billion.Correction: Meta AI Data Center Louisiana story
Panaji (Goa) [India], November 22 (ANI): Director Nikkhil Advani talked about his series ‘Freedom at Midnight’, which is based on the events that took place around India’s independence and partition. In a conversation with ANI, he opened up on his research work and why he decided to make this web show. The reference for his project was “‘Freedom at Midnight’,” a book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre about the events around the Indian independence movement and partition. He said it is a popular book and many books on history and other subjects are difficult to understand but it touched his heart. “When I was 16 years old, when I was 25 years old, whenever I picked up this book...and I have three copies of this book in my house.” Another book that he referred was brought by his friend, as he recalled at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. “There was one book that my friend bought for me that he got in a small village of England and there were notes of Lord Mountbatten... We also read other stuffs for the research on different events “ The series is a dramatized account of the tumultuous events surrounding India’s struggle for independence and the chaotic partition. The key figures in India’s independence movement, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, are brought to life in vivid detail, setting the stage for the series’ exploration of this pivotal moment in history. The drama doesn’t shy away from the political complexities of the time, capturing the tensions between the founding fathers of India and the colonial rulers. He asserted that he wanted to show people the events and decisions that were being taken at the time of independence, ” I wanted to do that. I wanted to show, I wanted the audience to come to the same room where these people are taking very difficult decisions.” ‘Freedom at Midnight’ is produced by Emmay Entertainment (Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani) in association with StudioNext. The series is helmed by Nikkhil Advani, who serves as both the showrunner and director. The writing team behind the series includes Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, and Ethan Taylor. The series boasts an ensemble cast. Sidhant Gupta plays Jawaharlal Nehru, while Chirag Vohra takes on the role of Mahatma Gandhi. Rajendra Chawla stars as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Arif Zakaria portrays Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Other notable cast members include Ira Dubey as Fatima Jinnah, Malishka Mendonsa as Sarojini Naidu, and Rajesh Kumar as Liaquat Ali Khan. The show also features Luke McGibney as Lord Louis Mountbatten, Cordelia Bugeja as Lady Edwina Mountbatten, Alistair Finlay as Archibald Wavell, and Andrew Cullum as Clement Attlee, among other pivotal roles. ‘Freedom at Midnight’ is streaming on Sony LIV. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
If Sad Beige Mom, Nattie Powell’s, latest Glinda-fied Step2 My First Christmas Tree makeover TikTok has you mourning the classic and very viral evergreen look , then you’re in luck. You can still find the Step2 My First Christmas Tree , along with other festive editions like the My First Snowman and My First Gingerbread House , available for purchase at retailers like Amazon, Walmart and the Step2 website itself. You may even find them on sale and deliverable ahead of the holiday, if you shop like Rudolph and run, run, run to cart as soon as you can. Unfortunately, the Step2 My First Advent Calendar that came back on the scene in July is either out of stock or not promised by Christmas anywhere that it’s sold. However, you can get notified on restocks from Step2 directly . The charm of these collectibles My First Christmas Tree : Designed with little hands in mind, this DIY Douglas Fir lets babies and toddlers take the lead in decorating their very own Christmas tree, complete with ornaments, a star and a miniature train set they can play with (while you’re putting up your own tree). You can get it in light green with a tan pedestal and multicolor ornaments or in dark green with a mahogany pedestal and multicolor baubles. My First Snowman : Your munchkins will have a blast dreaming up their own frosty pal with put-and-place style accessories and a magical top hat that plays yuletide tunes while they’re hard at work on his frozen, but still friendly facade. My First Gingerbread House : Fans of holiday baking competitions can step into pastry chef roles of their own with this sweet light up pièce de résistance, which comes with mix-and-match accessories that look just like real icing, peppermint candies and gumdrops. Plus, all the pieces fit neatly inside the house for tidy cleanups. My First Advent Calendar : With 25 secret compartments parents can fill with goodies/surprises as a way to celebrate each day in December and the month-long countdown to Christmas. However, this one make arrive after Christmas. Complete your ‘My First’ scene with these TikTok-famous Christmastime finds Amazon Step2 My First Christmas Tree in Light Green for $65, instead of $90 Step2 My First Snowman for $40, instead of $45 Walmart My First Christmas Tree in Light Green for $72 My First Christmas Tree in Dark Green for $89, instead of $99 My First Snowman for $45, instead of $56 Step2 My First Christmas Tree for $65 ($15 off with the code MYTREE15 ) My First Snowman for $40 ($8 off with the code MYSNOWMAN8 ) My First Gingerbread House for $55 Wayfair My First Christmas Tree in Light Green for $72 My First Snowman for $43 The Best Deals in December Amazon has this portable keychain charger for your Apple watch on sale for just $15 Nordstrom has Tory Burch bags, shoes and sunglasses up to 60% off, but the hottest looks are going fast Amazon, Walmart & Target have these PS5 deals still in stock with up to $126 off Amazon has this robot vacuum on sale for a whopping 57% off and it’ll make your life so much easier Amazon has this heated neck massager on sale for $20 off, just in time for holiday stress Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .
Middle East latest: Israel bombs 100s of sites in Syria as army pushes into border zoneEach year, Penn State has a handful of first- or second-year wrestlers in the lineup, and each year the questions are posed about their progress. This year, Luke Lilledahl is a freshman at 125, Braeden Davis is a sophomore at 133, Tyler Kasak is a sophomore at 157 and Josh Barr is a redshirt frosh at 197. Each of those four brought a lot of experience and success to Penn State from their scholastic days but college remains a different animal in terms of the transition process. A question about when that turning point shows itself in younger wrestlers — specifically Lilledahl, Davis and Barr — intrigued assistant head coach Cody Sanderson on Tuesday outside the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex mats. “Sometimes we see it right away with guys, sometimes it takes a few more matches,” he said. “My college coaches talked about guys having 20 bouts under their belt, not the redshirt level but the actual competition level. I think that holds for a lot of guys, but now, just as good as these kids are in their development, we’re seeing that happen a little bit quicker. “So really, what we’re looking for is individual improvements. Each guy is a little bit different, and a lot of it is following a game plan, finishing in a tough situation that they didn’t finish before, or really wrestling through a position that they didn’t know they weren’t wrestling through before.” Sanderson said some of the most talented wrestlers can think they wrestled through positions because they were superior athletically and technically than guys in high school. “Now they go up against somebody that’s more equal ... are they going to wrestle through those positions?” he said. “And that’s a big marker that we see. It’s pretty subtle, and I don’t know how many people would notice it on the outside but one thing we look for are they transitioning and going through those positions that they maybe got stuck in before.” Lilledahl had his first strong test against Lehigh’s Sheldon Seymour and scored a takedown with 14 seconds left to win 4-1 on Sunday in Allentown. “I was happy with Luke, I think he wanted to put more points on the board, but that was his first college dual meet on a big stage against a tough competitor, a guy that wrestled hard,” Sanderson said. “To be close in that third period and to defend with a baseline defense and turn around and come out on top, there’s just a lot of maturity that you see there from him; that sort of thing is really hard to coach. “He just knows where he is in the match. He didn’t panic at all. He just stayed focused, stayed with his snaps, stayed with his attacks. Now going forward, and we know he’s going to respond well in a big match. Now we just need to help him get a little bit more offense in some of those positions against maybe a little bit stronger, bigger guys.” Davis, who as a freshman won the 125-pound Big Ten title and earned the No. 1 seed at the NCAAs but did not place, faced Lehigh’s top-ranked Ryan Crookham at 133 and was defeated 4-2. Davis forced Crookham into a couple of stalling points but was unable to get to Crookham’s legs from neutral in the closing 30 to 40 seconds. “These guys have been competing at a high level for a long time, and part of that is taking some bumps and bruises along the way,” Sanderson said. “His (Davis) attitude was good afterward. He was he was upset. I mean, he’s as competitive as can be, but he knows he needs to work on some positions, and he feels like he wants to get another opportunity to get that guy. So that’s the sort of thing we want to hear from guys. So, no concerns there from us.” Barr at 197 was involved in a close bout with Penn State transfer and two-time All-America and No. 6-ranked Michael Beard ... until he wasn’t. A pair of low single-leg takedowns on which he switched to a double gave Beard an 8-2 lead and he made it 11-3 with a hip-high double late in the third. It was an impressive showing, to say the least, for Barr, who jumped to No. 6 from No. 21 in this week’s individual FloWrestling rankings. “We felt like with the right game plan, that Josh would be able to find a way to get on top, and he did exactly what the coaches talked with him about doing, and he found a way to win,” Sanderson said. “We’re just happy for him. I think if you saw in that match, you saw him really get to his offense. He didn’t get stuck underneath. He didn’t have his head down. Those are the things we’re looking for ... for him to get to that leg and get to the finishes. Earlier this year, he got stuck underneath guys a couple times, but you can see the improvement. We first really saw this past spring when he made that U-20 team, and since then, he just got better and better.” Overall, Sanderson said, it’s rewarding when things go to plan for the individual wrestlers. “It is really satisfying in an individual situation when you see an athlete follow the game plan, because-wrestling is a little bit tricky to game plan. You have this idea of what the match should be like, and then they make contact, and things just change right away,” Sanderson explained. “But to see somebody get in a tough match, in a tough environment with that kind of crowd to stick with the game plan, it’s good because you really see his maturity there. Because those sorts of situations, you can see guys, they’ll start to not regress, but they’ll start going to things they’re more comfortable with.”
Investing in dividend stocks when prices are down is a strategy that’s not just about getting a bargain. It’s about amplifying your returns. Imagine spotting a coveted item on sale at your favourite store: not only do you pay less, but you get the same quality product. Now, imagine that this product comes with a feature that grows in value the less you pay. That’s exactly what happens with dividend stocks. When a stock’s price falls, its yield increases, offering savvy investors a better return for every dollar invested. It’s the financial equivalent of a double win, and ( ) is a shining example of why this approach works. Why Nutrien? Nutrien is a global leader in agricultural solutions, providing crop nutrients and services to farmers around the world. Currently, its stock is trading at $68.07 per share on the TSX, down from its 52-week high of $83.14. While this decline might concern some, it’s an enticing opportunity for dividend investors. Why? Because Nutrien’s forward annual dividend rate of $2.99 now yields approximately 4.34%. That’s significantly higher than its five-year average yield of 3.45%. In simple terms, you’re getting more income for less investment. It’s like grabbing the last discounted item on a shelf before everyone else realizes it’s on sale. Digging into Nutrien’s recent financials shows why the stock is still a strong contender. In the third quarter of 2024, Nutrien reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $1 billion, thus underscoring its ability to remain profitable despite market challenges. Sure, earnings were lower year over year, but this is part of the cyclical nature of the agricultural sector. Nutrien’s potash segment, a cornerstone of its business, delivered record sales volumes of 11.1 million tonnes in the first nine months of the year. This performance prompted Nutrien to revise its full-year potash sales guidance upward to 13.5 to 13.9 million tonnes — a sign of confidence in its operational strength. Beyond its core financials, Nutrien’s shareholder-focused initiatives make it particularly attractive. The dividend stock has consistently returned value to investors through dividends and share repurchases. In the second half of 2024 alone, Nutrien repurchased 1.5 million shares for about $75 million. This buyback program reduces the number of outstanding shares, effectively increasing the value of each remaining share. Combine that with a steady dividend payout, and it’s clear Nutrien prioritizes its investors, even in tougher times. Looking ahead What makes Nutrien especially intriguing is its proactive approach to navigating market conditions. The dividend stock committed to achieving approximately $200 million in annual consolidated savings by 2025, a target it expects to reach ahead of schedule. These cost-saving measures, coupled with its strong market presence, position Nutrien for continued resilience and growth. Another factor in Nutrien’s favour is its valuation. The dividend stock’s forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.50 is considerably lower than many of its peers, suggesting the stock may be undervalued. For long-term investors, this represents an opportunity to buy into a market leader at a discount. Coupled with the higher yield resulting from the stock’s recent price dip, this makes Nutrien a compelling option for both and income-focused portfolios. Looking ahead, Nutrien’s focus on operational efficiency and market expansion provides a clear growth trajectory. The dividend stock’s strategic initiatives, including enhancing its digital agriculture offerings and expanding its retail network, are designed to capture market share and drive profitability. These moves align with broader trends in the industry, such as the increasing adoption of technology in farming and the push for sustainable agricultural practices. Foolish takeaway Buying dividend stocks like Nutrien while they’re down isn’t just like getting a deal. It’s like getting an upgraded version of your favourite product at a lower price. You secure a higher yield, position yourself for future appreciation, and invest in a dividend stock that’s committed to rewarding its shareholders. Nutrien’s strong fundamentals, shareholder-focused strategies, and promising industry outlook make it a standout choice. So, while the market may be looking elsewhere, this is your chance to grab a gem at a bargain and enjoy the dividends.
Sean Zam named Head of Sales and Marketing at GC Biopharma USA
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge